Prospectus Hit List for April 24

Hit List for April 23
Hit List for April 25Hit List updates are published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting April 2, 2014. Data presented here is based on games through the day prior to publication.Teams are ordered based on Adjusted Hit List Factor, a computer generated number, and the author isn't responsible for the order of the teams.

6

11

9.5

9.6

10.0

.515

.495

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Brett Myers has thrown three innings, saved two games, and struck out four hitters. If this is a ploy to create a trade market where one previously didn't exist, point Houston.

2

7

10

7.1

6.3

5.9

.387

.407

0.0%

0.5%

0.5%

-0.1%

-0.2%

Not one of Dustin Ackley, Jesus Montero, or Justin Smoak is slugging better than .370.

3

5

12

6.3

5.6

6.4

.343

.325

0.1%

0.6%

0.8%

-1.1%

-1.5%

The Cubs can hit Alfonso Soriano anywhere in the lineup because when you're hitting .200/.220/.200 the damage to the team has already been maxed out.

4

8

10

7.9

7.4

7.3

.426

.446

0.2%

1.2%

1.4%

-0.5%

0.0%

It's tempting to say disparaging things about the A's when they lose a game 4-0, but here's the not-dirty-at-all secret: they're not really that dirty. Or bad.

5

9

7

7.7

7.0

6.7

.474

.494

0.2%

2.1%

2.4%

0.0%

-0.2%

Matt Wieters, Nolan Reimold, and Adam Jones have 15 homers between them. None of them is slugging under .620. But you knew that because all three are sitting on your fantasy team's bench.

6

3

13

5.5

6.7

6.6

.341

.359

0.3%

0.2%

0.5%

-0.1%

-0.0%

"This [losing streak] goes to 11."

7

6

9

5.3

3.7

5.3

.338

.320

0.4%

1.2%

1.6%

0.3%

0.4%

In 1908, the Cardinals scored 372 runs over a 154-game season, or 2.4 runs per game. The Pirates are averaging two runs per game. If they continue at this pace, even with the extra eight games, the Pirates will come up 48 runs short of the '08 Cardinals.

8

10

6

9.1

9.1

8.6

.575

.594

0.8%

4.4%

5.1%

0.3%

-0.5%

With the words, "Home run! Jose Bautista!" all of eastern Canada exhales.

9

5

12

5.7

6.1

6.7

.346

.364

1.4%

0.8%

2.2%

-0.2%

-0.1%

When you pitch Jason Marquis and Matt Capps in the same game you can't really expect to win.

10

8

8

5.9

6.8

8.5

.457

.437

2.5%

4.5%

7.0%

-0.6%

-2.3%

The best reliever used to be called a fireman. He would come on anytime to put out the fire. The Mets could use one now because they have Miguel Batista, whose role could best be described as arsonist.

11

8

7

7.0

7.2

7.5

.496

.476

6.5%

4.2%

10.7%

-0.3%

2.5%

The Rockies have eight guys slugging over .500, but don't worry, only six of them are regulars.

12

12

4

9.7

10.9

10.0

.666

.648

8.2%

10.7%

18.9%

0.0%

-3.0%

The Washington Post is reporting that Brad Lidge is a spy sent from the Phillies to infiltrate and ultimately destroy the Nationals. A movie version is in the works.

13

13

4

10.2

10.8

11.0

.662

.644

8.4%

5.1%

13.6%

-0.5%

-2.4%

The last offense that was this reliant on the success of a single hitter was the Giants during Barry Bonds' run.

14

5

12

7.2

6.8

7.4

.389

.370

12.8%

6.1%

18.9%

0.5%

3.4%

They may have ceded the title of worst record in baseball to the Royals, but at eight games out they still face the biggest deficit of any team. Viva la Revolution!

15

5

10

5.5

6.2

6.3

.383

.402

15.5%

36.9%

52.4%

1.0%

-4.4%

Notes to minimize hysteria: the Red Sox have the third-best OPS of any team in baseball.

16

9

7

7.8

7.8

7.5

.502

.522

16.0%

38.5%

54.4%

0.7%

2.6%

The Rays were supposed to have amazing pitching but a mediocre offense. So far this season they've had mediocre pitching but a very good offense. Baseball is weird.

17

7

9

6.1

6.2

7.0

.411

.392

16.0%

28.2%

44.2%

1.8%

3.3%

Joey Votto's slugging percentage may be below his on-base percentage, but his on-base percentage is .444 so he's doing all right.

18

10

6

10.1

10.3

10.3

.635

.654

17.6%

9.9%

27.5%

2.9%

8.8%

With yesterday's two walks and a homer, Adam Dunn's season line stands at .250/.366/.550. Adam Dunn is a career .243/.374/.503 hitter. Adam Dunn may not be finished.

19

9

8

8.3

8.3

9.1

.511

.491

22.3%

8.8%

31.1%

-0.1%

-11.3%

You kinda have to win when the other team is pitching Kyle Kendrick and it's not 2007.

20

8

9

7.4

6.4

6.2

.412

.393

24.3%

31.4%

55.7%

0.1%

-0.6%

When Ryan Braun and Zack Greinke are on, well, let me put it this way: mess with bull, get horns.

21

6

10

7.6

7.4

6.4

.427

.447

25.6%

43.7%

69.4%

-3.0%

-0.3%

One thing we can be pretty certain of when it comes to the Angels: they're better than the Mariners. Hang your hat right there, Angles fans.

22

8

6

7.2

7.4

6.2

.513

.533

25.7%

11.4%

37.1%

-0.8%

1.7%

Answer: Travis Hafner. Question: Who made himself useful again?

23

10

7

10.4

9.2

8.6

.564

.544

27.7%

20.2%

47.9%

0.1%

8.9%

The deeper you delve into the Braves' numbers, the worse they look. Atlanta is the highest-scoring team in the National League right now but don't bet on it finishing that way. In fact, don't bet at all. Betting is bad.

24

7

8

8.0

7.4

7.1

.493

.473

28.5%

22.7%

51.1%

1.8%

6.9%

So how much has new $100 million man Jose Reyes helped the Marlins? Well, he's done an excellent job of standing at shortstop. Beyond that... So there's that.

25

7

10

7.5

6.7

7.8

.427

.407

33.1%

22.2%

55.3%

-1.9%

-5.4%

The Phillies lost 9-5 to the Diamondbacks, which was sort of a sure thing because the Phillies have not scored nine runs in a game all year. They have now scored five or more four times, though. Progress! Or not!

26

9

7

9.1

9.9

10.0

.593

.574

50.0%

9.4%

59.4%

-0.1%

3.2%

In perhaps the most amazing story since ever, Tim Lincecum revived his previously finished career with five innings of one-run ball. If you want to nitpick, sure, he walked five guys, but you can't have everything, OK? You just can't!

27

10

6

8.5

6.6

6.4

.493

.513

55.0%

10.4%

65.4%

-0.7%

-9.7%

Don't look now but the Tigers have been overtaken by the White Sox in run differential and Hit List Factor.

28

11

6

12.3

13.1

12.8

.724

.708

59.1%

24.6%

83.8%

-0.1%

-2.2%

Every pitcher on the Cardinals staff, save one, has an ERA below 4.50. This is called being good and lucky.

29

10

6

9.8

9.6

9.3

.604

.623

67.5%

21.6%

89.1%

0.2%

0.7%

13

4

13.3

13.7

13.4

.786

.799

74.1%

18.4%

92.5%

0.1%

1.6%

Derek Holland had struck out 20 in 20 innings before netting just one in six innings against the Yankees. Add four walks to that and the Rangers' chances of winning fall precipitously. But, surprise, Texas won! No, just kidding. They lost.